Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top United Kingdom based CEO’ operating in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods space. If you think a CEO’ is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Rachel Horsefield
CEO – Beauty of THG
Rachel joined The Hut Group in September 2012 as Head of Trading for the Beauty Division after 5 years working at Boots The Chemist. She won Best New Comer in the annual 2012 Company Awards Rachel’s team delivered a record breaking 2013 with retail sales growth of 59% and Rachel was promoted to Managing Director of the Prestige Beauty Division in September 2013 Rachel was Awarded Employee of the year for the Prestige Division in the annual 2013 Company Awards.
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About THG: The Hut Group is an online retailing platform focused on fast moving consumer goods, specifically focused on health and beauty.
Darren Rajanah
CEO THG Ingenuity of THG
Joined The Hut Group in 2008 playing a key role in its rapid expansion over the past 5 years. Responsible for developing and implementing commercial strategies to drive efficiencies across the group. Also with responsibility for developing and delivery of group marketing strategies. CIMA Fellow and qualified accountant with 7 years senior finance experience at the Caudwell Group (revenues of £1.5bn).
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About THG: The Hut Group is an online retailing platform focused on fast moving consumer goods, specifically focused on health and beauty.
Matthew Moulding
Chief Executive Officer of THG
Matthew founded The Hut Group in 2004 and moved full-time into the business in 2006. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen and spent 8 years as Chief Financial Officer of 20:20, the distribution division of The Caudwell Group, revenues increased from £70m to £1.5bn. Matthew also led the £365m sale of 20:20 to private equity in 2006, before moving full-time to The Hut Group.
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About THG: The Hut Group is an online retailing platform focused on fast moving consumer goods, specifically focused on health and beauty.
Alan Jope
Chief Executive Officer of Unilever
Alan joined Unilever in the UK in 1985, subsequently working in North America for 14 years and in Asia for 13 years. Before being appointed as Chief Executive Officer, Alan served as President of Unilever’s Personal Care business from 2014 and continued as President when the name of the division changed in 2018 to Beauty and Personal Care. From 2009 Alan led Unilever’s business in China and North Asia, doubling its size and laying important foundations for future success. He was appointed to Unilever’s Leadership Executive in 2011 in his role as President of Unilever’s businesses across North Asia. His previous senior roles have also included President Russia, Africa & Middle East; global category leader for several of Unilever’s Foods businesses; and President of Unilever’s Home & Personal Care business in North America. Earlier, Alan worked in a number of sales and marketing roles in the UK, Thailand, and the US. Alan holds a Bachelor of Commerce with honours from Edinburgh University, Scotland. He also graduated from Harvard Business School’s General Management Program in 2001.
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About Unilever: Unilever produces and supplies fast-moving consumer goods in food, home, and personal care product categories worldwide.
Jean-Christophe Chopin
Founder and CEO of BORN
A creator and innovator by nature, JC is an entrepreneur who has had a strong presence in online financial services, digital insurance and stock brokerage. He has a wealth of international experience with expertise in the US as well as vast European digital and brand management knowledge. JC pioneered E*Trade Europe and Verisign in the early days of the Internet, and later went on to invest in real estate, time pieces and luxury fashion. His passion for skiing and extreme sports also led him to launch the ‘Carre Neige’ ski insurance within the Savoie region. Most recently, he has married his online finance expertise with his experience in design and luxury brands to create BORN, a B2B global market-network that connects design-led brands with retailers.
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About BORN: BORN is the world’s first private B2B platform that connects a global network of design-led lifestyle brands and retail buyers.
